# Field goals and timeouts (NFL)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/field-goals-and-timeouts-nfl/638536>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [October 22, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/field-goals-and-timeouts-nfl/638536 "2012-10-22T16:02:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/field-goals-and-timeouts-nfl/638536/41 "2012-10-25T22:21:08Z")

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> [@Telemark](#):
>
> The important thing here is not that it’s a high pressure situation, but that it’s a shot that no one practices. Most folks have no idea how to throw a basketball that far with any accuracy, they don’t know how hard to throw or what approach to take. That’s very different from a set shot like a free throw.

Very true. But on the flip side, pros miss free throws relatively often, so it isn’t like they have the distance and arc perfected. I’m guessing at least a few of them would want a chance to “find their range”.

> [@Telemark](#):
>
> They’ve practiced enough to know what their range is, and how high they need to kick the ball.

Conditions can and do change.

> [@Telemark](#):
>
> Neither would a practice kick, the wind was just too random and blustery to effectively practice. It was a crap shoot no matter what. The first field goal attempt that day gave them all the information they needed to know. There’s a reason there are flags on top of the goal posts.

And yet with those flags on the poles and the warmup/practice the kickers had before the game, the first kick was still missed by about 20 yards or more. Later in the game the kicks were far closer. The more game situation practice they had, the closer they came to making the field goals.

> [@Telemark](#):
>
> Yes, you can come up a few oddball scenarios where a practice kick might help you. But you have to weigh that with added pressure, and the chance that someone on your team might get hurt on the extra play.

The first part I’ll grant you, but the second not so much. If I thought giving my kicker a practice shot gave me the best chance of winning, I wouldn’t think twice about the injury risk. So the question is still if the practice kick is a benefit to making the kick and by how much.

I do understand your points, though.

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